The Mysteries of London; or, Lights and Shadows of London Life — page 235: what you’re looking at

Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.

em cr mm ee ee LIGHTS AND SHADOWS OF LONDON LIFE. 22y RS aaieauatle A ae Gaal ae ll “Twill see him, and talk over your case, which is | I hope you have kept my name,” he added, “ clear in | Feally a very interesting one.” “We must talk it over together,” said the prisoner ; “ ay, you may stare, but I know my man. When the of trial comes, unless I have assurance from his own lips that my life will be spared, out comes “Surely you don’t mean——” “Don’t 12” said theruffian. The ’stificate of his son’s murder of his daughter-in-law! Damn me,” he added, “ if my missus shan’t pitch his grandson into his lap in open court, You know me— Vm a man of my word.” “My dear Sedler,” exclaimed the really alarmed Prim, “ what good could such a proceeding do?” _ Prevent my alone. If I must ride the colt that’s foaled of an acorn, I’ll have a companion on the crupper. Ha! ha! ha!—a gipsy and a lawyer! —the devil would chuckle to see us arrive together.” His visitor began to feel a peculiar uneasiness about his throat, and, for the first time perhaps for many years of his life, he wished that he had kept within the pale, of that which the world calls honesty, he might still have found scope for his genius, * T will see the baronet this very day,” he nervously muttered; “don’t be alarmed, George—don’t be alarmed; he must save us—you,I mean. Really I feel so interested that I shall aot be able to rest till I have seen him.” It was finally agreed that Prim should wait upon Sir Walter Mowbray and consult with him what best could be done to save so useful a mn as the re- landlord of the Rising Sun, who followed his visitor to the gate of the felons’ yard, and whispered him, as he took leave: _ Tell the governor it will all out unless he does the handsome. I1’d do any thing to oblige him in reason; but I’cant—I won’t hang alone.” *¢ You shan’t,” replied Prim, shaking him cordially by the hand, “ rely upon it you shan’t.” “T won’t,” repeated the fellow, eyeing him with a ferocious air. ‘‘ Revenge is sweeter than any thing but safety—remember that.” “I shall remember it. Keep quiet. There—good bye!” * Good bye!” growled the gipsy, and the pair of worthies separated. “Dear me,” muttered the lawyer, as he directed his steps to the baronet’s, this time to his official resi- dence in Downing Street, “an unpleasant affair, very un t affair! I begin to wish I were well out of it. Sir Walter will be furious. No matter, let him. We are embarked in the same boat, and must sink or swim together. What a singular incident!” he added, stili talking to himself,—“ Fitzgerald and -Sedler! It was a thousand chances they ever came together. Fools would call it Providence—retribu- tion—the hand of Heaven! Pooh! if Heaven had a hand in every crime which is brought to light, by this time it must be a very dirty one!” On his arrival in Downing Street he found the baronet ready dressed for a levee. He was in excellent humogr at his re-election, and the lawyer, who had the affair, was graciously received, “Upon my word, Mr. Prim,” exclaimed the minister, with a smile, “you are an importunate creditor! But twelve hours elected, and you bring me account already !” «T don’t come with my aceount, Sir Walter.” “What then? Has Mr. Oldtree”—the name of the speaker’slate opponent—* demanded an investigation ? —_——-— the affair.” « Of course, Sir Walter—quite clear,” “ What then?” “ The fact is,” resumed the lawyer, “a friend of mine—indeed, I may say a friend of both of us— has lately compromised himself in a very awkward manner.” “ In the election?” “No, Sir Walter, in a highway robbery.” The great man stared. ‘the idea of any person to whom he could possibly be known being compromised in such an affair, at the first blush seemed so ridicu- lous that he could have laughed, had he been on suffi- cient terms of familiarity to take such a liberty with himself; as it was, he merely elevated his eyebrows in a manner which seemed to say: “ Are you mad, or drunk? Explain yourself.” Prim understood him, “It is a fellow named Sedler, whom I was obliged to employ in a certain affair five years since, in which the honour of your family, Sir Walter, is deeply inte- rested.” “*‘ What then?” exclaimed the baronet; “I suppose you paid him?” “ Of ceurse I paid him,” faltered the lawyer, really at a loss how to break the intelligence; “but since then, poor fellow! he has been unfortunate and robbed.” ** On the highway ?” demanded the speaker’s client, “On the highway, Sir Walter.” “ With violence?” “ With violence. An excellent creature, but so impetuous,” “ He must hang, excellent as he is. You have not been concerned in the law so many years, Mr. Prim, without haying observed that his most gracious majesty has an aversion, in fact a peculiar antipathy, to highwaymen, which, coupled with his propensity Jor hanging—that is, his exalted sense of justice— renders the condition of your friend, if convicted, hopeless. Of course,” he added, fixing a keen glance upon the lawyer as he spoke, “ you have not been fool or knave enough to compromise my name in the affair?” “Certainly not; but——” * But what ?” impatiently demanded the minister, “‘ Speak out; let me know at once with what and with whom I have to deal. I hate half-confidences as I do half villains.” * Your name,” said Prim, finding it useless further to mince the matter, “has been compromised, but through no fault of mine. The man I speak of was the one employed to steal the child.” “ Go on!” exclaimed Sir Walter, turning very pele. * It seems, in the struggle with its mother, he pos- sessed himself of certain papers; amongst others, the marriage certificate, which he has promised to pro- duce in court, confessing every thing, unless he has an assurance from your own lips that his life will be “Impossible!” exclaimed the old man, deeply agitated. “The king, were I to solicit it upon my knees, would never grant such a request. There are points,” he added, “upon which his most gracious majesty is as obstinate as amule, Ruin—disgrace— disgrace !” Mr. Prim began to feel very uneasy. Though the baronet might be disgraced by the threatened disclo- sures of Gipsy George, his life at least was safe. Not so with the lawyer’s. ‘There | OMG LOole (EO)